Rotary printing machine



Oct. 29, 1929. J. P. ERIKSEN ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Filed July 12, 1928' 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR i; ATTORNEY.

Oct. 29, 1929. P, ERIKS Q 1,733,252

ROTARY PRINTING MACHINE Fil d ly 12. 192a 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY.

Patented Get. 29, 1929 NETED STATS PATENT OFFICE JAMES P. EBIKSEN, OF NEW YORK, 1'1. '35., ASSIGNOR TO AMERICAN BANK NOTE COM- PANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CGBPORATION OF NEW YORK ROTARY PRINTING IiIACI-IINE Application filed July 12, 1928.

My invention relates to rotary printing machines, and more particularly to wiping and polishing mechanisms acting upon the intaglio or under-surface plates used upon such machines.

In rotary steel plate printing machines it is customary to use a plurality of lateraliy reciprocating platens or pads about which is fed a wiping strip for removing the major portion of the ink applied to the non-printing surface of the plate, and to pack the printing lines of the plate with ink.

F or many years, the wiping strips or rags consisted of a fairly rough burlap, but at the present time paper strips are being extensively used for this purpose.

In conjunction with the wiping mechanism, a polishing mechanism has been used which also includes therein a reciprocatory platen or pad about which a fabric strip of a texture finer than that used for wiping was passed, the position of the polishing mechanism having been such that following the wiping action and prior to the makin of the imprint, any surface ink not removed by the wiping cloth, was removed by the polishing cloth with an incidental polishing effect upon the non-printing surface of the plate.

in actual practice it has long been known that the engaging pressure of the wiper and the polisher with the plate is an important factor in securing an eflicient automatic wiping and polishing of the plate. Too light a pressure oi the wiper will result in an inadequate removal of the surface ink so that the polisher will be required to remove too much ink. II" the pressure be too great, ink will be drawn from the'hair lines of the plate to an extent to interfere with a perfect imrint.

During the makeready of a press, or when ever it is necessary to change the wiper and poiisher thereon, it has heretofore been essential to readjust the wiper and polisher bars or platens in the event of their being moved away from the plate cylinder in order to facilitate the threading of the cloths through the machine. When putting new plates upon a press, such readjustment was always essential, although by reason of; the formation of Serial No. 292,104.

the plate cylinder, the wiper and the polisher might be threaded through the machine without disturbing such adjustment. This, however, was a rather awkward procedure.

The efiiciency of the wiping action can readily be determined by a skilled steel plate printer by an inspection of the plate following the wiping action, but the etficiency of this mechanism cannot be determined by an inspection of the plate after it has been both wiped and polished. The efiiciency of the polishing action can be determined only after the plate has been both wiped and polished with a known efliciency of the wiping mechanism, since it is impossible to accurately ascertain to what extent the separate cloths have contributed toward the preparation of the plate for making the impression, or which mechanism is responsible for improper condi tions present in the plate.

Steel plate printing is extremely wasteful 0]": high grade ink, and there is a constant effort toward the development of steel plate printing machinery which will effect a saving of such ink. Improper setting of the wiping and polishing mechanisms requires adjust ment of the ink fount roll to overcome what would otherwise be a defective wiping action. A heavily saturated wiper will ordinarily avoid the dragging of the ink from the lines of the plate as a result of overpressure by the cloths. This condition, however, will also tend to streak the non-printing surface of the plate, which condition must be corrected by the polisher so that this cloth will become too heavily saturated, necessitating a longer feed of the cloth and wastage thereof in order to secure a proper polishing action.

lVith the above conditions in mind, I have provided a rotary printing machine embodying therein a wiping and a polishing mechanism, each of which is so constructed that the vibratory platens or bars may be moved out of engaging relation with the plate upon the cylinder without disturbing the adjustments cont-rolling the pressure relation be tween the plate and the cloths passing over said bars or platens. This not only facilitates the makereacly of the mess, but the time ding of the cloths theretirigsugh during lit . possible.

said makeready or whenever the substitution of a new cloth for an old one is required. The means for imparting movement to the said bars or platens is so constructed as to permit a considerable, but rapid, movement of the bars or platens either away from, or toward, the cylinder.

The throwoif means, acting upon the wip ing mechanism, is entirely independent of that acting upon the polishing mechanism, so that during the makeready of a press, the wiping mechanism may be used during a shorttrial run in order to permit the adjustment of the wiping and the inking mechanisms to an extent to ensure the application of only sufficient ink to secure a proper inking of the plate and the incidental removal of the major portion of the ink from the top or non-printing surface of the plate. The throwoif means acting upon the polishing mechanism is entirely independent of that acting upon the wiping mechanism in order to permit a trial run of the machine when adjusting the wiping mechanism.

The actuating means for imparting movement to the bars of each mechanism is so constructed that accidental movement of the wiper or polisher bars or pads away from the cylinder during the run of the press is im- By reason of the use of wiping and polishing mechanisms made in accordance with my invention, so long as the same plates are used upon the machine, no readjustment of the pressure developing means is required,

' 3 even though there may be frequent necessity for the movement of the wiper or polisher platens away from the cylinder.

The above conditions have resulted in a material saving of ink through the maintenance of the pressure adjustments and the facilitating of the making of such adjustments.

The mechanisms herein referred to are also effective in increasing the output capacity of a printing press by reason of the facility with which the effect of the action of the different cloths may be determined, and their incidental adjustment, may be made, and the ease with which the cloths may be threaded through the machine.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination of parts hereinafter set forth and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a side view of a rotary steel plate printing machine embodying wiping and polishing mechanisms made in accordance with my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view showing the adjusting and throwofi mechanisms for the several platens or pads.

Like numerals refer to like parts in both of said views.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the wiping and polishing mechanisms are associated with a plate cylinder conventionally shown at 10, having associated therewith an inking mechanism 11 also conventionally shown. The cylinder 10 has two plates 12 and 13 thereon, and carries a gear 14 through which the cylinder is driven, and by which power isapplied through gears 15 and 16 to a cam shaft 17 for actuating the feeding mechanisms for intermittently advancing the wiping and the polishing strips. These feeding mechanisms may take any desired form as such forms no part of the'present invention, but was common in the art prior thereto.

The wiping strip is drawn from a supply reel 18 and runs about a guide roller 19 between presser rollers 20, through a clamp mechanism 21, and over the wiper platens or pads 22 and 23, passing about a roller 2 intermediate said platens. From the platen or pad 23 the strip from the reel 18 passes about a guide roller 25 and about a driving roller 26 to the re-wind reel 27, mounted in a suitable slotted bracket to compensate for the progressive enlargement of the roll upon said reel.

The feed roller 26 is driven by a chain and sprocket mechanism 28 actuated by a pawl and ratchet mechanism 29, which in turn is driven from a cam upon the shaft 17 by means of a link and lever system 30. r

The clamp 21 is actuated from a cam upon the shaft 17 by a link and lever mechanism 31 in the usual and well known manner.

The construction of the wiper and polisher platens or pads 22-23 is that usually used in machines of the type to which this invention relates, so that a detailed description thereof is unnecessary, as is a showing of the mechanisms for vibrating said bars or pads. It is merely necessary to state that each platen or pad is carried by a wiper bar having an extended end 32 reciprocating in a bracket 33 at each side of the machine- I \Vhile I have shown two wiper platens or pads, it will be readily understood that the number of such used is immaterial to the invention, although practice has demonstrated that a double wipe is preferable to a continuous wipe. The construction of each of the wiper bars and the parts appurtenant thereto is identical with that of the other and also of the polislier bars and their appurtenant parts. The wiper bar 32 is acted upon by an adjusting screw 34 mounted in the top of the bearing bracket 33and having a bearing head 35 engaging the adjacent extended end of the bar 32. The screw 34 is also provided with a lock nut 36.

The slidable bar 32 is mounted upon a bearing plate 37, mounted for vertical movement in the bracket 33 and acted upon by a spring 38 having a normal tendency to thrust said plate and said bar toward the cylinder 10. It will be readily understood that the adj usting screw will limit the extent of action of the spring 38 for moving the bar toward the cylinder. The adjustmentsecured by said screw will be a fairly fine adjustment so as to have little or no influence upon the tension of said spring 38, which spring merely determines the pressure relation between the wiper passing over the platen or pad 22 and the plates 12 or 13.

Sl'idably mounted in a housing at the bottom of the bracket 33 is a plunger 39, having mounted therein an adjusting screw 40 for adj usting the tension of this spring. A wear plate 41 is positioned between the lower end of the spring 38 and said screw 40.

By the foregoing construction, the bar 32 is permitted to have free vibratory movementwithin the bracket 33 and between the bearing iead and the wear plate 37, and at the same time is permitted to have movement toward or away rom the axis of the cylinder 10 to a limited extent during the wiping operation.

The main function of the adjusting screw 34, however, is to limit the movement of the bar or pad toward the cylinder 10 while it is disengaged from a plate upon said cylinder. This avoids undue wear of the forward end of the plate and relieves the wiper from undue stresses and a tendency to wrinkle.

By means of the screws 34 and and the spring 38, the bar 32 may be adjusted to any position to secure a desired pressure relation of the wiper with the plates.

In order to permit the wiper platen or pad 22 to be moved out of engaging relation with the plates upon the cylinder 10 to an extent to permit sufiicient clearance between same and said plates to facilitate the threading of the wiper 18 in the manner heretofore described, or in any other desired manner, I provide throwoff mechanism consisting of a rack 42 carried by the slide 39 and acted upon by pinion 43. Said pinion is upon a shaft 44 having a crank 45 through which said pinion may be turned for the purpose of raising and lowering the slide, and thus devcloping or relieving tension in the spring 38 to an extent to permit the bar or pad 22 to move by gravity away from the cylinder 10 when the tension of said spring is relieved, or toward said cylinder under the tension developed in said spring.

The platen or pad 23 has associated therewith parts corresponding with those hereto fore described. It is carried by a bar 46 having extending ends, corresponding with 32 and is mounted in brackets 47, carrying an ad table stop screw 48, having a head 49, hearing on the bar 46 and a lock nut 50. A wear plate upon which the end 46 bears is shown at 51, and a housing for a spring 52 bearing upon said wear plate is shown at 53.

Mounted in the housing 53 is a slide 54 carrying an adjusting screw 55 having a wear plate 56. The slide 54 is provided with a rack 57 co-operating with a pinion 58 carried by a shaft 59 which shaft has a crank 60 connected with the crank 45 by means of a link 61. The shaft 59 also carries a crank 62, by means of which the shaft 59 and its pinion are turned, the turning movement of this shaft being transmitted through the crank 60 and the link 61 to the crank 45 of the shaft 44 and its pinion 43, so as to cause a simultaneous movement of both bars 32 and 46 radially of the cylinder 10.

Mounted adjacent the bottom of the machine is a rock shaft 63 having a crank 64 which is connected by means of a sort of ogee-formed lever 65 with the crank 62, the formation of this lever 65 being such that when the throwolf i eehanisin has been so actuated to develop tension in the springs 38 and 52 to move the wiper bars 3246 toward the cylinder 10, the engagement of a bend in said lever with the shaft 63, and the off-center position of the crank 64, will serve to so l said lever as to preclude any possi bility of the pressures or stresses to which the s 39 and 59 are subjected, causing such n'zovcmcnt these slides as to accidentally d uigage the wiper from the plates upon the cylinder 10. p

The throwolf mechanism is actuated by means of a hand crank 66, carried by the shaft 63. As additional safeguard against the release of the lever 65 as a result of vibrations in and about the machine, I provide a manually operative latch member 67 adapted to engage the handle of the crank 66 when the bars or pads are in their pressure engaging relation with the cylinder 10.

Associated wit-h the wiping mechanism heretofore described, is a polishing mechanism which includes a single platen or pad 68, constructed and operating in manner substantially identical with each of the wi er platens or pads. Like the latter, it is carried by a reciprocatory bar 69 having projecting encs slidabiy mounted in brackets 70, and these projecting ends are acted upon by an adjusting screw 71 carried by the top of the bracket and having a bearing head 72 engaging the projecting ends 69 and a lock nut 7 3. The projecting ends 69 bear against a wear plate 74, acted upon by a spring 75 set in a housing 76.

Mounted in the lower part of housing is a slide 77 carrying an adjusting screw Z 8 having a wear plate 7 9 against which the spring 75 bears. The slide 77 has thereon a rack 80 with which is enmeshed a pinion 81 carried by a rock shaft 82, provided with a crank 83 which is connected by means of an ogee-shaped lever 84 with a crank 85 upon a rock shaft 86. The formation and arrangement of'thc link 84 is such as to secure the same self-locking action which is secured by the construction and arrangement of the 111111 The shaft 86 is provided with ahand crank 87, and acting upon this hand crank 87 is a manually operative latch member 88 supplementing the effects secured by means of the construction and arrangement of the link 84: and the shaft 86.

it will he noted that while the detailed construction. of the polishing mechanism is substantially identical with each of the units of the wiping mechanism, and while it has the same mode of operation and may be adjusted in like manner, its actuation is entirely inclependent of that of the wiping mechanism, as is the feeding mechanism for the polishing strip passing over the platen or pad 68.

Referring to Fig. 1, this polishing strip is drawn from a supply reel 89 and passes about the pad 68 to a guide roller 90, and from this guide roller about and between presser rollers 91 actuated by a pawl and ratchetmechanism 92, which in turn is actuated by a link and lever mechanism 93 from a cam upon the shaft 17 The strip, upon leaving the presser rollers 91, passes about a re-wind roller 94, by which it is wound upon a re-wind reel 95 mounted in a suitable slotted bearing 96 to compensate for the progressive increase in the diameter of the roll of said strip. The re-wind roller 94 is actuated from the pawl and ratchet mechanism 92 by a chain and sprocket mechanism 97.

Co-operating with the ratchet wheel of the mechanism 92 is a detent pawl 98, a similar detent pawl 99 being associated with the pawl and ratchet mechanism 29.

The operation of the herein described machine is substantially as follows Since the manner of intermittently feeding and controlling the wiping and polishing strips does not differ from known conditions in the art, a detailed description of this feature is unnecessary. It is merely sufficient to note that following the wiping or polishing of a plate, each strip is advanced a predetermined length. As in all rotary steel plate and analogous printing machines, the bars 32, 46 and 69 are vibrated axially of the cylinder 10 to avoid streaking of the plates. This is referred to merely because the adjusting screw heads 35, 49 and 72, and the wear plates 37, 51 and 74: are provided to permit this action of said wiper and polisher bars.

lVith the above premise and upon the assumption that new plates 12 and 13 have been mounted upon the cylinder 10, and that wiping and polishing strips have to be threaded through the machine, the procedure followed in the makeready of the press will include first, the threading of the strips in relation to the feeding mechanism therefor and the wiper or polisher platens or pads, and the subsequent adjustment of the wiping and polishing mechanisms in relation to the cylinder 10.

The particular manner of threading the strips is immaterial, and if desired, instead of using separate strips for wiping and polishing, the same strip may be used provided the clean portion thereof is passed from the supply reel over the platen or pad 68 before being passed to the platens or pads 23 and 22, either or both of which may be used for wiping purposes. Where textiles are used, it is customary to use separate strips, but if paper be used, the conditions are such that a. single continuous strip maybe used for both wiping and polishing, although the usual practice at the present time is to use separate strips.

To permit the threading of the strips through the machine, the latches 67 and 88 are disengaged from the cranks 66 and 87, and said cranks are used to turn the shafts 63 and 86, thus actuating the links 65 and 84 in a manner to turn the shafts 59 and 82 and the pinions 58 and 81 carried by said shafts respectively.

The said shafts 59 and 82 extend across the machine, and the mechanisms carried and actuated thereby are duplicated upon opposite sides of the machine so that the turning of said shafts will cause a parallel movement of the bars 46 and 69 away from the cylinder 10.

Similar movement will be imparted to the bar 32 as a result of the actuation of the shaft a l, and its gears a3 by the link 61. This radial movement of the various platens or pads will position them from the plates upon the cylinder 10 a distance sufficient to permit the free movement of the strip between these pads and-the plates upon the cylinder, and even permit the hands of the pressman to be passed freely through this space or clearance in order to properly adjust the strip.

When the strip has been properly threaded through the machine, the shaft 63 is turned in a reverse direction, thus bringin the pads 22 and 23 into their normal operative position in relation to the cylinder 10, where each plate upon said cylinder will be brought into rubbing contact with the strip passing over said platens or pads.

Power is then applied to the press, and while it is running, the adjusting screws 34: and 48 may be so set as to secure a desired contact relation" between the wiping strips and the plates. This adjustment, however, will ordinarily be small.

If, upon making a trial imprint, or upon inspection of a plate, it be found that there is an apparent under or over supply of ink, this can be corrected in part by adjusting the fount of the inking mechanism. Inspection of the wiping strip will also be of assistance in determining whether or not the plate'is being properly inked.-

lVhen the fount has been adjusted so as to indicate that the proper quantity ofinl; be

ing delivered, a more effective wiping can be secured both as tothe removal of surface ink and as to the packing of the lines by adjusting the tension of the springs 38 and 52 by means of the adj ust-ing screws 40 and 55. By increasing the tensionof-these springs, the pressure relation between the strips and the plates may be increased, which willresult in a better surface wipe. By relievingthe tension of these springs, this pressure relation may be reduced so as to avoidthe possibility of'the wiping strip pulling the ink from the lines of the plate.

- It will be borne in mind that there is always movement of the platens or pads against the tension of the springs 38 and 52, upon their engagement with a plate, although this movement will be very slight.

When using two wiper platens or pads, they may be differentially adjusted so that the pressure developed by one may be utilized to secure a heavy wipe, while the other may be used to secure light wipe. The platen or pad 22 is ordinarily used for a heavier wipe which will ensure an eifective packing of the lines of the plate by reason of the larger quantity of ink present. V hen so set, the platen or pad 23 will act mainly to wipe the non-printing surface of the plate giving it a semi-polish.

The proper adjustment of the platens or pads may take considerable time in order to limit the consumption of ink to merely that required to secure a perfect imprint,and skill in such adjustment will result in a considerable saving of ink.

hen the wiping mechanisms have been properly adjusted, the shaft 88 is actuated to move the polisher bar 69 toward the cylinder 10,7and the adjusting screws 71 and 78 are so actuated as to secure a proper initial contact relation and a proper pressure relation of the polisher cloth passing around the platen or pad 68 with the plates upon the cylinder. This adjustment, it will be noted, is entirely independent of the adjustment of the wiping mechanism, andit is obvious that it must follow the adjusting of the wipingmechanism in order: to secure satisfactoryworking conditions of these'mechanisms. The movements of the bar 69,both during adjustment and during the run of the machine are the same the bars 32 and 46, so that a repetition of such details is unnecessary.

When either the wiping or polishing strip upon the rolls 18 or 89 becomes exhausted, a new strip may be threaded through the machine without disturbing any of the adjustments, by merely actuating-the shaft 63 or 86 so as to move the slides 39 and 54 or 77 clownwardly by means of the racks lI2-57-80 and pinions 435881,thus relieving the tension on, and lowering, the springs 38, 52 and so as to permit the bars 32, 46 and 69 to move by gravity away from the cylinder 10.

This actuation of the bars 32, 46 and 69 does not disturb any of the adjustable parts so that after the new strips have been threaded through the machine, said bars and the various parts co-operating therewith may be re stored to their former position with the platens or pads in the operative relation to the plates upon the cylinder 10, and the springs 38, 52 and 75 at the proper tension, thus avoiding necessity for any readjustment of parts.

Hence the use of the throw-off mechanism acting upon said bars respectively, permits the movement of the platens or pads toward and from the plate cylinder without disturbing any of the adjustments necessary for an effective wiping and polishing of the plate. This condition in the machine is highly desirable, since it not only facilitates the threading of the strips and the makeready of the machine, but avoids a very material loss of time and wastage of ink, which otherwise would result from the necessity for adjusting the wiping and polishing mechanisms following each renewal of the strips and each makeready of the press.

lVhile it may be necessary, from time to time and particularly when changing the plates upon the cylinder 10, to adjust some or all of the wiping or polishing mechanisn'is, this adjustment will, ordinarily, not be great, since variation in the thickness of the different plates is never great. lVere it necessary to move the platens or pads away from the cylinder 10 by an actuation of the adjusting screws 40, 55 and 7 8 in order to permit the threading of the wiping and polishing strips through the machine, the whole procedure above outlined for ensuring a proper wiping and polishing of the plate. would have to be gone through each time the platens or pads were moved away from the cylinder. The avoidance of this condition is the primary object of the present invention, and in securing the desired results, it will be notec that the throwoii' mechanism acts through the medium of the pressure adjusting mechanism, and that while it destroys the conditions developed by the actuation of the adjusting mechanisms, these conditions are automatically restored when the throwoi'f mechanism is again actuated to position the platens or pads of either the wiping or the polishing mechanism in engaging relation with the plate cylinder.

It is not my intention to limit the invention to the precise details of construction shown in the drawings, it being apparent that such may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected ty Letters Patent, is

1. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding r to its normally operative relation to said cylinder.

2. In a rotary prlnting machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and st 'ip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, means whereby the tension of said spring may be adjusted, and means operative to impart movement to said spring from or toward said cylinder, whereby the tension thereof may be relieved and said bar posi tioned away from said cylinder to permit the threading of a strip over said platen, or said spring may be tensioned and said bar restored to its normally operative relation to said cylinder.

3. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping and a polishing mechanism each embodying therein a bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, means whereby the tension of said spring may be adjusted, and means operative to impart movement to said spring from or toward said cylinder, whereby the tension theerof may be relieved and said bar positioned away from said cylinder to permit the threading of a strip over said platen, or said spring may be tensioned and said bar restored to its normally operative relation to said cylinder.

4. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a plurality of bars, each carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, springs operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bars respectively toward said cylinders, means whereby the tension of said springs respectively may be adjusted, and means operative to simultaneously impart movement to said springs from or toward said cylinder, whereby the tension thereof may be'relieved and said bars positioned away from said cylinder to permit the threading of a wiping strip over said platens, or said springs may be tensioned and said bars restored to their normally operative relation to said cylinder.

5. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a plurality of bars, each carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, and a polishing mechanism embodying therein a single bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, said wiping and said polishing mechanisms respectively also embodying therein springs operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bars respectively toward said cylinders, means whereby the tension of said springs respectively may be adjusted, and means operative to simultaneously impartmovement to said springs from or toward said cylinder, whereby the tension thereof may be relieved and said barspositioned away from said cylinder to permit thethreading of a wiping strip over said platens, or said springs may be tensioned and said bars restored to their normally operative relation to said cylinder.

(3. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracketoperative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in i said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, and means to impart movement to said slide and said adjusting screw, 7

7. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, an adjusting screw carried by said bracket and limiting the movement of said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, and means to impart movement to said slide and said adjusting screw.

8. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and c1 erative upon said spring, a rack upon said slide, a pinion enmeshed with said rack, and means for actuating said pinion to impart movement to said slide toward or from said spring.

9. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said bination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, an adjusting screw carried by said bracket and limiting the movement of said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and opertive upon said spring, a rack upon said slide, a crank shaft adjacent said slide, a pinion carried thereby enmeshed with said rack, a second crank shaft, a link connecting the cranks upon said shaft, and means for turning said second shaft to actuate said pinion to move said slice toward or from said spring, the crank upon said last-named shaft being so set as to engage said link with said shaft when said slide has been moved toward said spring.

11. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism em bodyin therein a pluralityof bars, each carrying a platen, bearing brackets in which said bars respectively are mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, springs mounted in said brackets respectively operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bars toward said cylinder, slides mounted in said brackets respectively, an adjusting screw mounted in each slide and operative upon a spring, racks upon said slides respectively, acrank shaft adjacent each slide, a pinion carried by each shaft and enmeshed With a rack, a link connecting the cranks upon said shaft, a main actuating crank shaft, a link connecting same with a crank upon one of said other shafts, and means for turning said main actuating shaft to simultaneously actuate bot-h of said pinions to impart movement to said slides toward or from said springs respectively, the crank upon said main actuating shaft being so set as to engage the link connected therewith with said main actuating shaft when said slides have been moved toward said spring.

12. In a rotary printing machine the com bination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a plurality of bars, each carrying a platen, bearing brackets in which said bars respectively are mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, springs mounted in said brackets respectively operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bars toward said cylinder, adjusting screws carried by said brackets respectively and limiting the movement of said bars respectively toward said cylinder, slides mounted in said brackets respectively, an adj usting screw mounted in each slide and operative upon a spring, racks upon said slides respectively, a crank shaft adjacent each slide, a pinion carried by each shaft and enmeshed with a rack, a link connecting the cranks upon said shaft, a main actuating crank shaft, a link connecting same with a crank upon one of said other shafts, and means for turning said main actuating shaft to simultanenously actuate both of said pinions to impart movement to said slides toward or from said springs respectively, the crank upon said main actuating shaft being so set as to engage the link connected therewith with said main actuating shaft when said slides have been moved toward said spring.

13. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, and means to impart movement to said slide and said adjusting screw.

14. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, an adjusting screw carried by said bracket and limiting the movement of said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, and means to impart movement to said slide and said adjusting screw.

15. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and st 'ip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a springmounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, a rack upon said slide, a pinion enmeshed with said rack, and means for actuating said pinion to impart movement to said slide toward or from said spring.

16. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, a rack upon said slide, a crank shaft adjacent said slide, a pinion carried thereby enmeshed with said rack, a second crank shaft, a link connecting the cranks upon said shaft, and

'means for turning said second shaft to actuate said pinion to move said slide toward or from said spring, the crank upon said last named shaft being so set as to engage said link with said shaft when said slide has been moved toward said spring.

17. In a rotary printing machine the'combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen, a bearing bracket in which said bar is mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring mounted in said bracket operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, said bar toward said cylinder, an adjusting screw carried by said bracket and limiting the movement of said bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in said bracket, an adjusting screw mounted in said slide and operative upon said spring, a rack upon said slide, a crank shaft adjacent said slide, a pinion carried thereby enmeshed with said rack, a second crank shaft, a link connecting the cranks upon said shafts, and means for turning said second shaft to actuate said pinion to move said slide toward or from said spring, the crank upon said last named shaft being so set as to engage said link with said shaft when said slide has been moved toward said spring.

18. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a plurality of bars, each carrying a platen, and a polishing mechanism consisting of a single bar carrying a platen, bearing brackets in which said bars respectively are mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, each of said brackets having mounted therein a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, a bar toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in each of said brackets, an adjusting screw mounted in each of said slides and operative upon a spring, a rack upon each slide, a crank shaft adjacent each slide, a pinion carried by each crank shaft enmeshed with a rack upon a slide, a link connecting the cranks upon the shafts adjacent the bars of said wiping mechanism with said actuating crank-shaft, a second actuating crank shaft, a link connecting the crank thereon with the crank upon the shaft associated with said polishing mechanism, and means whereby said actuating shafts may be independently actuated, the cranks upon said actuating shafts being so set as to engage the link connected therewith with said shaft.

19. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wipingmechanism embodying therein a plurality of bars, each carrying a platen, and a polishing mechanism consisting of a single bar carrying a platen, bearing brackets in which said bars respectively are mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, each of said brackets having mounted therein a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust, a bar toward said cylinder, adjusting screws carried by said brackets respectively and limiting the movement of said bars respectively toward said cylinder, a slide mounted in each of said brackets, an adjusting screw mounted in each of said slides and operative upon a spring, a rack upon each slide, a crank shaft adjacent each slide, a pinioncarried by each crank shaft emmeshed with a rack upon a slide, a link connecting the cranks upon the shafts adjacent the bars of said wiping mechanism with said actuating crank shaft, a second actuating crank shaft, a link connecting the crank thereon with the crank upon the shaft associated with said polishing mechanism, and means whereby said actuating shafts may be independently actuated, the cranks upon said actuating shafts being so set as to engage the link connected therewith with said shaft.

20. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring operative. upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, means whereby the tension of said spring may be adjusted, and means whereby movement may be imparted to said bar without disturbing the adjustment of the tension of said spring.

21. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a polishing mechanism embodying therein a bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, means whereby the tension of said spring may be adjusted, and means whereby movement may be imparted to said bar without disturbing the adjustment of the tension of said spring.

22. In a rotary printing machine the combination with a plate cylinder, an inking mechanism associated therewith and strip feeding means, of a wiping and a polishing mechanism each embodying therein a bar carrying a platen and mounted to have movement toward and from said cylinder, a spring operative upon and normally tensioned to thrust said bar toward said cylinder, means whereby the tension of said spring may be adjusted, and independently operative means operative respectively upon the bar of said wiping mechanism and the bar of said polishing mechanism, whereby movement may be imparted to said bars respectively without disturbing the adjustment of the tension of said spring.

In witness whereof I have hereunto afiixed my signature, this 28th day of June, 1928.

JAMES P. ERIKSEN. 

